Education

Western Kentucky University’s School of Journalism & Broadcasting has finished fourth in the Overall Intercollegiate Championship in the 52nd annual Hearst Journalism Awards Program. WKU has ranked among the top eight nationally for 19 consecutive years and won the overall title in 2005, 2001 and 2000.

Volunteers at Kentucky schools will probably be forced to pay a ten dollar fee for criminal background checks, if they want to help out in the upcoming school year. The new fee will go into effect on July 1st.

University of Arkansas system president Donald Bobbitt will recommend Corey Alderdice to lead the Arkansas School of Mathmatics, Sciences and the Arts. Alderdice is currently the assistant director for admissions and public relations at the Gatton Academy of Mathmatics and Science at Western Kentucky University.

Universities and colleges in the Commonwealth conferred a total of 63,000 degrees this academic year, setting a new record. Council on Postsecondary Education President Bob King says the numbers indicate that "significant progress" is being made in meeting educational attainment goals established in the bluegrass state.

The Council on Postsecondary Education has worked with Kentucky’s public postsecondary institutions to develop the Kentucky Public Postsecondary Education Diversity Policy, and the plans were approved by the CPE last fall.

Folk Studies student Rachel Hopkin, a familiar voice to WKU Public Radio listeners, received the John D. Minton Award for outstanding graduate student Friday. She was also named the outstanding graduate student in Potter College of Arts & Letters. Part of her graduate work included the production of radio features about tradition culture in our region.

State Officials in Kentucky today announced that the state has been selected by the National Governor's Association to work with other states to develop policies promoting efficient education funding. The group will also study flexibility in the awarding of high school credits.

WKU Psychology professor Sam McFarland has long been fascinated by individuals who put their lives--and the lives of loved ones--at risk in order to save people of a different race, ethnicity, or religious group. Dr. McFarland has an article that's set to be published in a social psychology journal called "All Humanity is My Ingroup: A Measure and Studies of 'Identification with All Humanity.'"

The University of Kentucky board of trustees has voted to increase student tuition and fees by six percent. The board voted Tuesday following plans announced last month to increase tuition as state funding for postsecondary education saw a 6.4% cut.

A WKU weather forecasting class is set to begin a 10,000 mile, two week trip later this month, seeking out things most of us run away from. Joe Corcoran speaks with assistant geography and geology professor Dr. Josh Durkee about his storm chasers class.

Leaders at Western Kentucky University say they now plan to open the new Doctor in Physical Therapy Program in about 13 months. Although there is strong demand for the program, it can't be offered until the entire certification process has been completed.

State assessment tests get underway in Kentucky this month, and what happens in the closing weeks of the school year could have major implications for students, employers, and the state economy. Kentucky is the first state to adopt international math and language standards, raising the bar on learning.

Officials at Western Kentucky University say they currently plan to open the WKU Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in about fourteen months. The program has now received state approval from the Council on Postsecondary Education.